Combined credenza and folding bed



Oct. 11, 1 949; ERAMO ET AL I 2,484,377

COMBINED CREDENZA AND FOLDING BED Filed July 5, 1947 INVEN TOR. 6:15 Lea/ 40 Joszn MAE/N0 d f 40/59/60 z [EA/V0 Patented Oct. 11, 1949 COMBINED CREDENZA Aim FOLDING Bill) Helen Erarno', Joseph Marinmand America T. Eram'o; Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 5,1947, Serial No. 759,146 10 Claims." (01. -158) The present invention is directed to a combination ofacredenza or similar article of furniture arid a folding bed, more particularly to a structure wherein the bed may be folded into the credenza or may be extended therefrom for use.

It is of considerable importance in apartments where the number of rooms available is relatively small, to provide sleeping accommodations in rooms used for other purposes during the day. It has been customary to provide folding beds which may be placed in a. closet and be removed therefrom for use. It has also been common practice to provide a foldable' bed within a wall of the room, with means for removing the bed from the wall when it is desired to use the same. Various other arrangements seeking a similar result have been proposed and used but practically all of such structures have had certain disadvantages. In some cases it was inconvenient and difficult to open the bed and to obtain a bed which was cornfortable for'the user. In other cases, the article of'furniture containing the bed was unsightly anddetracted from the appearance of the room when used for other purposes.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome the difficulties and disadvantages inherent in prior structures of the type described, it being among the objects of the present invention to provide a piece of iurniturewhich has the appearance of a credenza or the like and which is highly decorative and useful for various purposes, said credenza containing a fo-ldable bed therein.

It is also among the objects of the present in vention to provide an article of the class described wherein a simple mechanism is provided for accommodating the foldable bed, said mechanism being such that a simple movement will fold the bed within the credenza and the reverse movemerit-will remove it therefrom, ready for use.

These and other objects of the invention will appear in connection with the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts, and wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a credenza made in accordance with the present invention, wherein the foldable bed is within the interior of the credenza;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through the credenza and showing the bed in extended or open position ready for use;

Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 2 and showing the bed in an intermediate stage wherein it is partially contained within the credenza;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, showing .2 the bed completely within the credenza and the front openings thereof in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view take alon the line 5--5 of Fig. 2, some Darts being broken away for clearness, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary,enlarged view of a means for clamping the frame of the bed into operative relation with other parts of the mechanism.

There is provided a credenza having a and a central opening {for the reception of a folding bed. Shelves 3 and 4 are provided on opposite sides of opening 2 for holding decorative and other articles, and a pair of doors 6 hinged along the sides of compartment 2 provide means for closing said opening when the bed is folded therein. At the bottom 5 there is pivoted horizontally'a base member 1 which is adapted to be,

moved by the action of the bed. A back 8 com: pletesthe Credenza, said back usually extending a slight distance above the top of the credenza.

The sides 9 and ID of compartment 2 are pro vided with a pairof tracks I l and I2, respectively. Each trackjis arcuate inshape' and is formed of a channel 13 having in-turned sides M, the openings in said channels 9 and Hi facing each other.

The top l5 of the tracks is adjacent to the upper end of compartment 2 near the back 3 ,thereof. The tracks extend downwardly and forwardly and terminate atlG adjacent to the front opening of the credenza. A bar IT has rollers I8 on opposite ends thereof, said rollers operating in said tracks.

Springs [9 at'points l6 provide means for preventing rollers l8 from accidentally being removed from the respective tracks.

There is provided a folding bed having an end frame member 20 constituting a part of frame 2| and having springs 22 stretched across the same as is usual. of the end sections of the foldable bed. A frame 23 constitutingthe"central section has legs 24 and 25 secured thereto to support the same on the ground. Frame 2| is pivoted thereto onopposite' An outer end frame 7 21 similar to frame 2| is pivoted to central frame 23 by pivots. 28 and it has legs 29 supporting the sides thereof at points 25.

outer ends thereof when in extended position. A mattress 30 is supported on said bed.

on the inside of pivoted base 1 adjacent tothe ends thereof are a pair of ears 3|, to each, of which is pivoted a relatively long link 32. To the end of the latter at point 33is pivoted a short link 34, which in turn is pivoted at 35 to the side of the compartment.

In the operation of the device, assuming top l Said frame 2| constitutes one the bed'is in open or extended position, doors 6 are open and base 1 is resting on the floor, as shown in Fig. 2. When it is desired to close the bed, it is pushed from the right to the left, causing rollers l8 to move up in tracks II and I2 into a position as shown in Fig. 3. In said position, the inner end section 2| of the bed has reached a substantially vertical position and legs 24 have contacted rod 33, joining the two sides of links and have raised link 34 to a vertical position. Thereby base I has been pivoted until it is almost closed. Then in the next step of the operation, central section 23 is pressed further forwardly so that link 34 has passed the horizontal and base 1 is fully closed. Then end section 21 is raised manually until it is in a vertical position so that legs 29 are folded within section 2'! and the bed is completely within compartment 2. Then doors 6 are closed.

In such position, the credenza constitutes a useful article of furniture for the storage and display of various household and personal articles. It has an attractive appearance and does not give any impression of the presence of a bed therein. The mechanism for retaining the bed is simple and inexpensive and is capable of long use without the substantial wearing of any of its parts. The operation of extending the bed is an extremely simple matter as it is merely necessary to open doors 6, extend end section 27 and pull the bed out until it is in its proper position, as shown in Fig. 2. Base 1 opens automatically during this operation.

As shown in Fig. 5 end held to cross bar member 2!] of the bed is ll by bolts, rivets or the like.

Other means for holding the same in position may be provided, as shown in Fig. 6. There is provided a C clamp 36 havingthreaded member 3'! in one end thereof and a recess 38 in the other end for the reception of a bar 2| constituting a part of the frame .of the bed. Cross bar ll may be welded or otherwise permanently secured to contact plate 39 mounted as usual on the inner end of screw 37. By this arrangement the end of the bed may be introduced into the recess of member 38 and the screw clamped in position to hold the bed relatively to the cross bar [1. If it is desired to change beds, it is merely necessary to retract screw 3'! and remove frame member 20 from recess 38 and a different bed introduced in its place.

An important advantage of the present construction lies in the fact that the bed may be made up before folding and storing the same in the credenza. Any of the foldaway .or rollaway beds may be used in the combination of elements described herein with due modification of details to accommodate the same. When a bed which folds up in the center is used, the tracks are altered in shape so that they extend only along the lower portion of the compartment and the cross-bar is attached to the end of said bed; thereby the bed will run on the relatively horizontal tracks and fold upwardly into the credenza.

Although the invention has been described setting forth a single specific embodiment thereof, it will be'apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the credenza may be made of any size or shape which will have a compartment of vsuiiicient volume to accommodate the bed when in folded position. The arrangement of shelves and other surfaces maybe quite different from that shown in the accompanying drawing, and other storage compartments such as drawers may be provided. The bed may be of a different design than shown and described, it being essential that the bed be of a folding type and be capable of being attached to the cross-bar and rollers. Spring [9 has been found useful for holding the end of the bed temporarily when it is in extended position and such spring may be omitted or a spring of a difierent shape may be substituted therefor. Also, in place of a spring, other means such as hooks may be provided for holding the inner end of frame 2|.

The end member of the bed frame 20' may be of different form than shown in Fig, 6, such as tubular or angular instead of rectangular. In this case, recess 38 may be modified to conform with such shape and thus hold the bed firmly in the clamp, in conjunction with a similarly modified form of cross-bar.

These and other changes in the details of the construction of the invention may be made within the principles herein set forth and the invention is therefore to be broadly construed and not to be limited except by the character of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. A combined credenza and folding bed comprising a cabinet having a front opening, a pair of confronting arcuate tracks on the inner faces of the sides of said cabinet, a bar mounted slidably on said tracks, a folding bed secured at its end to said bar, a horizontal ramp pivoted to said cabinet at the lower end of said opening, means connected to said ramp adapted to be contacted by a portion of said bed raising said ramp.

2. A combined credenza and folding bed comprising a cabinet having a front opening, a pair of confronting arcuate tracks on the inner faces of the sides of said cabinet, a bar mounted slidably on said tracks, a folding bed secured at its end to said bar, a horizontal ramp pivoted to said cabinet at the lower end of said opening, means connected to said ramp adapted to be contacted by a portion of said bed within said cabinet for raising said ramp, including main links at the sides of said ramp extending into said cabinet and pivoted to links mounted in said cabinet, and a bar joining said main links at their ends.

3. A combined credenza and folding bed comprising a cabinet having a front opening, a pair of confronting arcuate tracks on the inner faces of the sides of said cabinet, a bar mounted slidably on said tracks and having rollers at its ends guided by said tracks, a folding bed secured at its end to said bar, a horizontal ramp pivoted to said cabinet at the lower end of said opening, means connected to said ramp adapted to be contacted by a portion of said bed within said cabinet for raising said ramp.

4. A combined credenza and folding bed comprising a cabinet having a front opening, a pair of confronting arcuate tracks on the inner faces of the sides of said cabinet, said tracks being channel-shaped and having inturned edges, a bar mounted slidably on said tracks, a folding bed secured at its end to said bar, a horizontal ramp pivoted to said cabinet at the lower end of said opening, means connected to said ramp adapted to be contacted by a portion ofsaid bed within said cabinet for raising said ramp.

5. A combined credenza and folding bed comprising a cabinet having a front opening, a pair of confronting arcuate within said cabinet for.

tracks on the innerfaces of the sides of said cabinet extending downwardly from the top of said cabinet and outwardly at its lower end adjacent the front thereof, a bar mounted slidably on said tracks, a folding bed secured at its end to said bar, a horizontal ramp pivoted to said cabinet at the lower end of said opening, means connected to said ramp adapted to be contacted by a portion of said bed within said cabinet for raising said ramp.

6. A combined credenza and folding bed comprising a cabinet having a front opening, a pair of confronting arcuate tracks on the inner faces of the sides of said cabinet, a bar mounted slidably on said tracks, a folding bed secured at its end to said bar, a horizontal ramp pivoted to said cabinet at the lower end of said opening, means connected to said ramp adapted to be contacted by a portion of said bed Within said cabinet for raising said ramp, and a pair of doors hinged to said cabinet at the sides of said opening to form a closure for the same.

7. A combined credenza and folding bed comprising a cabinet having a front opening, a pair of confronting arcuate tracks on the inner faces of the sides of said cabinet extending downwardly from the top of said cabinet and outwardly at its lower end adjacent the front thereof, a bar mounted slidably on said tracks, a folding bed secured at its end to said bar, a horizontal ramp pivoted to said cabinet at the lower end of said opening, means connected to said ramp adapted to be contacted by a portion of said bed within said cabinet for raising said ramp, springs at the lower ends of said tracks adapted to support said bar when it is removed from said tracks.

8. A combined credenza and folding bed comprising a cabinet having a front opening, a pair of confronting arcuate tracks on the inner faces of the sides of said cabinet, a bar mounted slidably on said tracks, a folding bed secured at its end to said bar, a horizontal ramp pivoted to said cabinet at the lower end of said opening, means connected to said ramp adapted to be contacted by a portion of said bed within said cabinet for raising said ramp, said bed having a central section, legs supporting the same, inner and outer end sections pivoted to said central section, said inner section being secured to said bar.

9. A combined credenza and folding bed comprising a cabinet having a front opening, a pair of confronting arcuate tracks on the inner faces of the sides of said cabinet, a bar mounted slidably on said tracks, a folding bed secured at its end to said bar, a horizontal ramp pivoted to said cabinet at the lower end of said opening, means connected to said ramp adapted to be contacted by a portion of said bed within said cabinet for raising said ramp, said bed having a central section, legs supporting the same, inner and outer end sections pivoted to said central section, said inner section being secured to said bar, said legs adapted to raise said ramp.

10. A combined credenza and folding bed comprising a cabinet having a front opening, a pair of confronting arcuate tracks on the inner faces of the sides of said cabinet, a bar mounted slidably on said tracks, a folding bed secured at its end to said bar, a horizontal ramp pivoted to said cabinet at the lower end of said opening, means connected to said ramp adapted to be contacted by a portion of said bed within said cabinet for raising said ramp, said bed having a central section, legs supporting the same, inner and outer end sections pivoted to said central section, said inner section being secured to said bar, said legs adapted to rest on the floor of said cabinet, said inner end section being held vertically by said tracks, and said outer end section being folded vertically at the front of said cabinet.

HELEN ERAMO. JOSEPH MARINO. AMERICO T. ERAMO.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Welch June 8, 1897 Number 

